It’s that time of year again. After suffering through a heat wave last week that seemed like it would never quit, the City of London issued its first Tree Watering Alert. We might have had moisture in the air (felt like pea soup to breathe), but there wasn’t any water falling on the ground. That spells bad news for area flora.
But you can do something to help!
Time to water your trees
Trees need water to survive. Ideally they need 2.5 cm of water a week, or the equivalent of about 22 litres. Rainfall contributes to that total, but when Mother Nature refuses to cooperate, it is up to us to keep our trees alive. That means getting out and watering!
This young tree could use a big drink!
Without water, trees will wilt, suffer and eventually die. Saplings and newly planted trees are especially at risk. Some signs that your deciduous trees need a drink are brown and scorched leaves, leaf drop, and a higher susceptibility to disease and insect infestation. Coniferous trees may have droopy leaders on their branches, or needles that go brown and drop. Our evergreen friends are harder to bounce back from these conditions, so especially need attention to prevent getting to that point. Even if your tree survives, you might see effects from a sustained drought the following year.
Trees offer so much; give back a little today
So what are you waiting for? Need I remind you that trees provide us with oxygen, shade, esthetic appeal, a home for animals, a place to hang your hammock and/or build a treehouse? Plus they reduce air and noise pollution, erosion, and act as a windbreak! Get out there and water them! There certainly isn’t 2.5 cm of rain forecast for the week, let alone for today. It costs pennies a day, but your benefits will be reaped for years to come…